Swarms

Swarming is part of the natural reproductive life cycle of honeybees. When a bee colony becomes too large it divides by swarming. Here in Victoria the swarming season is usually between September and December. However, occasionally colonies may swarm at other times. Warmer weather, combined with an abundance of nectar and pollen, stimulate the colony to increase in population. Swarms usually emerge from the colonies between 10am and 2pm on warm sunny days.

Bee Swarm Collection

A swarm of
honeybees will cluster temporarily at one location, often hanging off
the branch of a tree or bush, while a few scout bees locate a new home.
When a suitable home is found the swarm moves as a group to that new
site. This is usually after a few hours or up to a couple of days.

Bee Nest Removal

Bees that have made a permanent nest in and around
the house are often not tolerated by the occupants of that building. To
ensure that feral, abandoned or unwanted nesting colonies of honeybees
are not unnecessarily destroyed, some members of The Beekeepers Club are
willing to offer a Bee Removal service.

Removing bees nesting in buildings can be very
difficult and sometimes costly. Where there is no economical method of
removing the bees, it may be necessary to destroy them. In such
situations the services of a licensed Pest Control operator is required.

Swarm Collectors

To ensure that unwanted honeybees are not unnecessarily destroyed, members of The Beekeepers Club offer a swarm collection service, as well as the removal of bee nests where possible. To assist in finding a nearby swarm collector, see the list below.

Swarm Collection List - BE SURE TO CONFIRM IF THE SWARM COLLECTOR CHARGES A FEE FOR COLLECTION